“When one encounters the fantastical, one must go all in,” Dalpe writes. Honoring that credo, Dalpe aims for the jugular with this visceral and bold debut collection that lives up not just to its title but to the greats of weird fiction. From a beautiful literary telling of rebirth and a cosmic entity seeking a new home, to disturbing creatures and multiple twists on classic horror tropes, these eighteen tales will transport readers on a deliciously twisted journey while continually upending all expectations. Characters navigate regret, passion, greed, and terror while exploring ominous houses, a family curse, and wicked entities hiding in plain sight. Each story opens up a fresh and unsettling world where horror lurks both within the shadows and in the heart of humanity. The women of Les Femmes Grotesques are complex. Dalpe unapologetically ravishes the feminine flesh to expose the raw gristle of the female character. From Prim, the lonely and mysterious woman who lives in the woods, to Agnes, a reality TV host starved for higher ratings and looking for answers regarding her missing brother, Dalpe illuminates these women’s deepest needs and most devilish desires. These are messy characters: volatile villains and profound heroines; at times, the line between the two is blurred, brilliantly, the sharp and lucid prose inviting readers to arrive at their own conclusions.
No word is wasted. The stories start with masterful opening lines that quickly hook readers and promise dark thrills: “Her body lay crumpled in the alley stairwell, limbs akimbo.” Delicate, evocative imagery of the varied settings paints calm and serene landscapes in contrast to the stark horror elements, which include both the fey and the everyday, like the embrace of a man who “simply wasn’t built to be tender, his every movement was a threat, purposeful or not.” Themes of resilience, death, reawakening, and love will stick with readers long after the final page.
Takeaway: Readers who love the macabre will relish this hypnotic short story collection.
Great for fans of: Shirley Jackson, V. Castro’s Mestiza Blood.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
